Frequently Asked Questions

Should I choose an Equine Dentist or a Veterinarian Who Does Equine
Dentistry, and what is the difference?

...A graduate veterinarian has the license to practice medicine, surgery and
dentistry in all animal species. All of this training for all of these species of
animals is done in four years. This means that they've usually learned a little
knowledge about a great deal of subjects, dentistry included....

...As one veterinary dentist put it, "I believe that it is unrealistic to expect an
equine veterinarian to be an expert in all aspects of the field....

..In any discipline, experience, education, and/or the use of different equipment
and methods can make a major difference in the outcome of a job. Not only our
equipment, but my education has been much more specialized and intense to
perform this level of equine dentistry. I am a licensed veterinarian, yet 99% of the
expertise that I now have in the field of equine dentistry, I learned outside of
veterinary school, in the ongoing pursuit of equine dental continuing education. I
continue to learn daily...

...The rights of owners to choose the best care and the rights of equine dentists to practice are
important ("Horse dentists, owners to file suit in protest of equine dental law," Aug. 29).  The
problem is not allowing an educated equine dentist the right to practice. The problem is
certification. I do the research and choose what is best for my horses, myself and my children.
Many vets are not as qualified as an equine dentist, and remember, the latest innovations, tools
and research in equine dentistry are credited to equine dentists - not vets. The most
comprehensive equine dental books are also written by the equine dentists - not the vets.  The
Texas Veterinary Board is in an uproar over a loss of business more than concern for horse or
horse owners. Look at Texas A&M's vet school - it's weak in dentistry.....

...Let's get a comprehensive certification program for those who wish to perform equine dentistry and call it good.
The public will weed out the weak ones, whether they are vets or equine dentists, just as the public does with
doctors, lawyers, dentists, chiropractors, etc. In any profession there are the good and the bad. Just do not outlaw
the equine dentists. We need them!...

...Most vets don't mind doing it and will do an adequate job, but most equine
vets prefer not to float teeth, however, they will still lobby against non-DVM
equine dental specialists....obsurd!

.....There are many people who work with horses in a variety of fields, are knowledgeable and do a
good job. In regards to dentistry however, good hand floats and an un-sedated horse, definitely
LIMIT ones ability to do the best job. In any discipline, experience, education, and/or the use of
different equipment and methods can make a major difference in the outcome of a job. Not only
equipment, but education has been much more specialized and intense to perform this level of
equine dentistry. I am a licensed veterinarian, yet 99% of the expertise that I now have in the field of
equine dentistry, I learned outside of veterinary school, in the ongoing pursuit of equine dental
continuing education......

......a non-veterinarian dentist is often far above that of a veterinarian. These dental practitioners provide high-quality
service and should be allowed to continue to do so.....
The following quotes & opinions were gathered from interviews, miscellaneous web
sites, magazine articles and other media sources.

What is the difference between power tools and hand floats?

...Considering the advances that have been made in recent years, the old-fashioned hand
float is becoming outdated. However, many equine dental technicians still use the
hand-floating method or a combination of methods and instruments. Today, we do more
than just "float teeth".  We provide 3-point balancing, which is essential to proper oral health
of the horse. Our exams follow human dentistry in completeness and treatment......

...A good equine dental technician has extensive knowledge about the anatomy of the
horse as well as the capability to properly use his/her tools in order to avoid any damage
during the floating process. The bottom line is that the degree of precision and the speed
with which corrections can be made using power instruments are far superior to that of
using only hand floats. The time required to make significant corrections by hand is just not
in the best interest of the horse (mouth open too long, additional sedation, etc). It is up to
the horse owner to advocate for their horses and make sure that the equine dentist comes
highly recommended....

...The most innovative equine dental power instruments on the market today were designed
by non-veterinarian equine dentists and are used by both....   

...Today, we practice Advanced Equine Dentistry, we don't just float teeth anymore....

... Many horses will have waves, ramps, rims, hooks, cap fragments or protruding teeth and
some will need incisor adjustment in order to properly align the molars.  In certain (or
severe) cases, using only hand floats would make it virtually impossible to do an adequate
job, and furthermore, it would take all day just to do one horse......

Why do horses need a dentist?

....horses teeth CONSTANTLY grow, much like their hooves, so they need to be filed periodically in
order to be able to eat properly and to live longer, more productive lives...  

...In addition to trauma within the mouth, lack of wear of the incisors and other dental problems often
create painful physical problems throughout the horse's body. Jaw and neck pain and stiffness may
contribute to lameness or performance problems. A horse with dental problems may be hard to turn in
one or both directions, difficult to tie, resistant to touch around the head and ears, and may evade or fight
the bit. In short, horses who do not receive complete dental care often suffer unnecessary health,
behavior, and performance problems. They may also experience shorter life spans.  To know what this
experience is like, place your top and bottom teeth together. In most cases, you will experience a gap
between the teeth in the back of your mouth. Imagine trying to get your food chewed properly from this
position....

...The range and severity of performance and attitude problems that can be traced to a horse's incisor problems
is truly astounding. ...

....Floating prevents soft tissue damage when soft tissue is trapped between teeth and bit or bridle.  
Proper shaping of the upper first and second cheek teeth prevents cheek injury between the bit and
attached leather and these teeth.  Shaping the lower first cheek teeth stops soft tissue pinching as the
bit moves back and forth in the mouth....

....The horse has a tremendous ability to compensate for dental problems because they come
on so slowly. It's not like one morning he wakes up and his teeth hurt - it is a slow, insidious
process. This is why most owners do not realize the horse is having any problems....

...Unfortunately, the pain associated with tooth problems can have a physical and emotional effect on
the horse and extend beyond the life of the actual tooth problem.  If a horse has been compensating for
six to eight years by holding his neck and jaw a certain way, it may take months to relax.   The memory
of pain lasts much longer than the pain itself.  It is especially important to check the teeth on a young
horse before they start in training.  They can have sharp points, wolf teeth, and caps on their teeth
which can make them start their career in pain and compensating for problems.  It's a tragedy which
will persist for the rest of that horse's life.......

To Sedate or Not to Sedate?

....Light sedation (standing) is recommended in order to keep the horse comfortable and
unstressed.  It will also keep his jaw muscles and TMJ relaxed. It allows your equine dental
technician the time and the opportunity to do a total, thorough exam and treatment.  Many horses
will tolerate this process without sedation, just as they stand for the farrier, however, there will be
some instances that require sedation indefinitely.
.
...It is up to the horse owner to decide what is best for his/her horse....

...Licensed veterinarians and qualified individuals working under veterinarians are able to administer
injections, as well as horse owners and their employees.....

Does Floating Hurt and What Should I Expect Afterward?

...No, the actual "floating" process does not hurt.  Horses
teeth have no nerve endings and there is no pain involved in
the actual process.  However, some horses may be a little sore
in the jaw after the process, and more so if they needed a
significant amount of work. It is not cause for concern if
your horse doesn't resume normal eating habits immediately
after floating. It can take a day or so for the soreness to
subside.  Most horses will have little to no soreness and the
owner will see an instant change in his behavior.....    

...Horses who have had significant dental malalignment can become very sore in the
jaw after floating. The temporal mandibular joint, ligaments and support muscles will
have adjusted to perhaps years of operating in an unnatural position. When the bite is
corrected, the joint should return to a normal position in its socket which can
temporarily cause a strain and pain to modified tissues. The horse may have difficulty
chewing and grinding his food, in which case appropriate doses of phenobutezol (bute)
should be administered and the horse supplemented with ground feed until the joint
stabilizes and the pain subsides. The discomfort is not usually indicative of improper
dental work and should subside in a few days.  The horse will benefit overall from
improved dental (chewing) function....
CAPS
Unlike human teeth,
horses have hypsodont
teeth.  Human teeth
remain the same
throughout life, but
equine teeth continue to
grow and wear down
until the tooth
eventually wears out (by
age 30).

From 2-4 years of age,  
horses shed caps or "lose
their baby teeth" every 6
months.  During this
time a horse sheds 24
teeth. Most of the time
the caps will loosen and
come out on their own,
but sometimes the caps
can get stuck or can
break into pieces and
become lodged in the
gums, in which case they
need to be removed
manually in order to
prevent dental cysts and
other problems.  Caps are
normally very easy to
remove and a
knowledgeable equine
dental technician can
identify when they are
ready to come off.
Start your horse's
dental maintenance at
age 2 and continue
regular check-ups for
the rest of his life.

Horses age 2-5 should
have a check-up every
6 months.  Others can
generally wait 1 year.

WOLF TEETH
A wolf tooth is a remnant of
a pre-molar, which can be
found on both the maxilla
(upper jaw) and sometimes
the mandible (lower jaw).  
Wolf teeth should be
extracted  because they can
cause pain and can fracture
when the bit hits them.  Wolf
teeth have little to no root
system and are fairly easily
removed.  Some horses have
one or more and some horses
may have none.  The fact that
wolf tooth extraction is so
common causes some to
think we are finally breeding
this tooth out of them.  
BITSEATS
....Bitseats are the slight
re-shaping of both the
upper and lower first cheek
teeth. When your horse has
a bit in place, the tongue
and cheeks move around as
pressure is applied to the
reins. The smooth curved
surface of a bitseat reduces
the likeliness of discomfort
when the soft tissue is
pressed against the teeth.  
If you plan to ride your
horse, he needs bitseats....
In our opinion, CAPPS hand and power instruments are the absolute best on the
market. They are designed by the very best Equine Dentists in the world and are
made of solid stainless steel.  CAPPS power instruments are not noisy, nor are they
big and bulky like old fashioned pneumatic tools.   They provide for a much more
professional finish and overall result, while reaching far into the back of the horses
mouth with ease and without causing nicks or cuts to soft tissue.  Power floats should
ONLY be used by trained professionals, as floating teeth requires precision, skill and
talent. Click here to go to the CAPPS website.

Students of equine dental schools are required to attend literally hundreds of hours of
training, as opposed to vet school students who are lucky to get a lecture, seminar or
a 3hr elective course.

In addition to acquiring the necessary skills to properly utilize power instruments,
dental students receive intensive training on the anatomy of the equine head and
neck, as well as the biomechanics of the oral cavity and dentition.  Click the following
link for more information:
Lucas Equine Dentistry